Energy expert Gia Arabidze says the possible reactivation of the Baku–Supsa oil pipeline — halted due to the war in Ukraine — would create significant new strategic and economic opportunities for Georgia. He notes that bringing the pipeline back into operation would generate substantial transit revenues for the country, as roughly one-third of its total length runs through Georgian territory.
According to Arabidze, Kazakhstan has shown strong interest in using the pipeline, which makes its renewed loading capacity realistic. He adds that the reactivation of Baku–Supsa would not only boost state revenue but also create new jobs and strengthen Georgia’s overall energy security.
Arabidze also highlights that building a full-cycle oil refinery in Georgia should be a national priority. Local refining, he argues, would reduce the country’s dependence on imported petroleum products — whether from Romania or elsewhere — and provide considerable long-term economic benefits.
The Baku–Supsa pipeline, which transports oil from Azerbaijan’s Chirag field to the Supsa terminal on the Black Sea coast, has been largely idle since 2022 due to shifting geopolitical conditions. According to the Georgian government, a new agreement reached with Azerbaijan will allow the pipeline to resume operations; historically, it transported about 4 million tons of oil per year.
